Small Town News

Idaho cattle, sheep numbers down from last year

Idaho cattle and calf inventory totaled 2.11 million head as of January 1, 2009, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. This was down 5 percent from the 2.21 million head in the State on January 1, 2008. There were 451,000 beef cows, down 2 percent, and 554,000 milk cows, up 5 percent, on hand at the beginning of the year. The number of beef replacement heifers, at 90,000, was down 5 percent and heifers for milk cow replacement, at 275,000, down 10 percent. Statewide, there were 260,000 steers over 500 pounds, 35,000 bulls over 500 pounds and 250,000 calves under 500 pounds on January 1, 2009. The 2008 calf crop totaled 960,000 head, up 2 percent from the calf crop of 2007.

All cattle and calves in the United State's as of January 1, 2009, totaled 94.5 million head, 2 percent below the 96.0 million on January 1, 2008. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 41.0 million, were down 2 percent from the 41.7 million on January 1, 2008. Beef cows, at 31.7 million, were down 2 percent from January 1, 2008. Milk cows, at 9.33 million, were up 1 percent from January 1, 2008. All heifers 500 pounds and over were at 19.6 million, down 1 percent. Beef replacement heifers on January 1, 2009 were 5.53 million, down 2 percent. Milk replacement heifers at 4.41 million, were down slightly. Other heifers, at 9.65 million, were down 1 percent from a year ago. Steers weighing 500 pounds and over, at 16.8 million, down 2 percent. Calves under 500 pounds, at 14.9 million, were down 1 percent. Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in all feed-lots, 13.9 million, down 7 percent. The combined total of calves under 500 pounds, and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds outside of feed-lots was 27.5 million, up 1 percent. The 2008 calf crop was estimated at 36.1 million head, down 2 percent from 2007. Calves born during the first half of the year are estimated at 26.3 million, down 1 percent from 2007.

Idaho Sheep Inventory Down 11 Percent From Previous Year

All sheep and lamb inventory in Idaho on January 1, 2009, totaled 210,000 head, down 25,000 head from the previous year, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Breeding sheep and lamb inventory on January 1, 2009, totaled 178,000 head. Breeding ewes one year old and older totaled 148,000 head, down 14,000 head from January 1, 2008. Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2009 totaled 32,000 head. The 2008 lamb crop of 190,000 head was down 10,000 head from 2007.

Idaho meat goat inventory on January 1, 2009 was 12,000 head unchanged from a year ago. Milk goats totaled 2,500 head, down 500 head from the previous year.

All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on January 1, 2009, totaled 5.75 million head, down 3 percent from 2008. Breeding sheep inventory decreased to 4.25 million head on January 1, 2009, down 4 percent from 4.43 million head on January 1, 2008. Ewes one year old and older, at 3.40 million head, were 4 percent below last year. Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2009, totaled 1.50 million head, down 1 percent from January 1, 2008. Market lambs comprised 95 percent of the total marketings. Twenty-three percent were lambs under 65 pounds, 11 percent were 65 - 84 pounds, 21 percent were 85 - 105 pounds, and 39 percent were over 105 pounds. Market sheep comprised the remaining 5 percent of total marketings. The 2008 lamb crop of 3.71 million head, was down 5 percent from 2007. The 2008 lambing rate was 105 lambs per 100 ewes one year old and older on January 1, 2008, down 3 percent from 2007.

All goat inventory in the United States on January 1, 2009, totaled 3.07 million head, down 2 percent from 2008. Breeding goat inventory totaled 2.54 million head down 2 percent from 2008. All market goats and kids totaled 528,000 head, up 1 percent from a year ago. On January 1, 2009 meat and all other goats totaled 2.55 million head, down 2 percent from 2008. Milk goat inventory increased 4 percent to 335,000 head while angora goats were down 10 percent totaling 185,000 head. The 2008 kid crop totaled 1.96 million head for all goats, down 2 percent from 2007.

Copyright 2009 The Adams County Record, Council, Idaho. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

Original Publication Date: February 5, 2009

Copyright: Copyright 2009 The Adams County Record, Council, Idaho. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.